I read that book too, and scoffed at little at the whole “no drinking” thing. If I want to have a glass of wine, even if I am TTC, I will. I think the book is just trying to say don’t go binge drinking while TTC – it’s okay to have a drink or two, but don’t go out and get hammered.

Plus, with as stressful as TTC can be, I would think that a girl would NEED a drink to de-stress every once in a while! 🙂

I’ve heard that drinking during first 2-4 weeks of pregnancy causes the most damage…more than drinking any other time. It’s scary enough for me to avoid drinking each month from mid-cycle to period day. I do drink during the first two weeks of my cycle without worrying.

My opinion and what a lot of my friends have heard from their doctors is that the two weeks between ovulation and your missed period, you can’t do much to the embryo from a few drinks. In the beginning I didn’t drink much at all but it made the whole TTC seem too stressful – I didn’t want to focus on TTC so much. I generally made sure to not drink a lot in those two week periods – 1-2 drinks at a time – but I didn’t abstain all together. In fact both myself and quite a few of my friends ended up conceiving after a drink or two (or more!).

But def stop as soon as you know you are pregnant – once the embryo implants and starts growing the baby, the brain development gets going and you really don’t want any alcohol!

The What To Expect book is often characterized as one that makes people really scared…..it took me until the second trimester to even start reading it!

This seems like a crock to me. Plenty of people have conceived while drunk and/or drank before they knew they were preggo and the kids are just fine. My mom definitely drank at least once or twice (and smoked cigarettes) before she found out she was pregnant with me and I turned out just fine. I’m over the pregnancy fearmongering trend.

I know personally that once I decide to TTC I won’t drink at all mainly b/c I don’t want to be 1 or 2 weeks pregnant and not know it and then drink which is bad. I also just think that for people who are having difficulty it couldn’t hurt to not drink. I love me some alcohol but its not good for you so it could hurt your chances is my thinking.

I have taken many classes (psychology and science) and mayb it is easy for me to say since i do not drink at all but thu u may not be causing MUCH damage but be safe and between the ovulation and taking the test or getting ur period do not drink..better safe than sorry.

I can tell u my mother smoked during both pregnancies..WAYYY less than during me and when it comes to being “smart” i win over my brother etc..now my mother regrets smoking at all…also the more research they do the more side effect u find..it does not mean she or he will be retarded..but y take a way even a little of what she could have been from him or her?

if u r not whiling to give up a few drinks..r u even REALLY ready to make the sacrifices needed to become a parent? take it as a practice round since u will not be allowed to drink at all for 9 months 🙂

but i believe Jenna 19 is dead on with when the most damage will be caused 🙂

Well, the time frame that the fetus is most damaged by alcohol is the first trimester. So, yes, it does make sense to not drink while TTC. I personally would not do anything in pregnancy that I have such obvious control to prevent.

I will probably have an occassional drink when I’m TTC because while I don’t drink much now, I do enjoy a beer or glass of wine on occassion. I never have more than 1 unless it’s like, a bachelorette party. And i cap out at 3-4 drinks for the whole evening. Obv i plan on avoiding those during that time frame.

I have read in various places why one should actively take prenatal vitamins as soon as they are contemplating pregnancy – even before the physical TTC begins. My cousin was told to stop smoking and drinking 3 months prior to the time she was “instructed” to begin TTC in order for the “toxins” to be fully released from her body.

As someone who has been TTC for almost a year and a half…. eff not drinking while TTC!! I am not a frequent drinker, but I do drink socially once or twice a month. AND I have every intention NOT to drink while preggers. I have had MANY friends get preggers while under the influence and believe me, their babies all came out perfect. I am not pregger, so if I want a beer, I will have one damnit. ;o)

My friends (and me) like to go out, like to drink.. and possibly consume more than the average person. Most of my friends have children-Some were smoking cigs or weed in addition to drinking a lot socially. As soon as they found out they were preggers they all stopped everything and all of their children have been healthy. They usually figured out between 5-6 weeks. The week before my sister found out she was (accidentally!) pregnant we were doing shots of jager until 3AM. nephew is fine. I’m not saying like drink your face off if you are trying to have a baby either. I think this is just going a little overboard.